(N)EverQuest Scrolls

In the last week, I have gathered 39 AAs at level 51. All were gained in the Hole, as was level 52 (plus a little level exp in Echo Caverns and the Deep zone in area). The 9 AAs are spent on run speed, regen and metabolism; I have avoided resistances, stats and plan on avoiding tradeskill AAs entirely.

My camp area in the Hole has been the zone in elementals (13, I think), the drop down massive constructs (7, but three of the respawn at double the rate), 2 crumbling gargoyles in this area, a couple (two or three) destroyed constructs, and maybe a spirit of the ruins. The latter area is often camped by powerlevellers; I have only found the zone in camped by a group once. All of these mobs are light blue (under the new scheme), apart from destroyed constructs and spirits which are mostly dark blue, and the named elemental, Elemental Striker, which is always green. At 52, a few elementals (only very few) are now green.

At 51, an AA would take around 30-40 minutes (15 if lesson was on). I didn’t time levelling, but I managed 70% of 52 in one lesson, so normal rate of exp would be 70% per hour.

If I wasn’t in the Hole, I’d have tried City of Mists stables or Nurga, possibly Dulak, and would have considered the entire high side of Echo Caverns (but quite a few greens, and turns mostly green at 52).

My plan is to stay in the Hole to 55, or until the quantity of greens becomes unacceptable.

Update: at 54 (same day as initial post), I have finished the last 30% of 52, cleared all of 53, and am 10% into 54; this was all in the Hole. Elementals are mostly green at 54, and destroyed constructs all turned light blue at 53. Massive constructs remain good experience, and are all light blue still. The epic pet is still dark blue, implying that his level is 49. Tomorrow is a patch day (12 hours announced), so I don’t think I’ll be 55 so soon.

Update 2: (next day) now 55, all in the Hole, but on massive and destroyed constructs and spirits only. 30% level per hour, close enough. At 55, the massive constructs are all green, so it’s time to say goodbye to the Hole. Having bought mnemonic retention, SCM 3, SCF 3, and MC 1, I can clear multiple boats in Dulak before respawn (Stormwave and Dandolak), but level exp for all that was about 10%, which is significantly slower than the Hole. I still have to earn my Prophecy of Ro spell (a pet buff), which should improve kill rate.

Staying with hot zones, I don’t see anything attractive, although a group in Grieg’s End may be the answer when I decide to start levelling again. Sebilis and Chardok don’t appeal, thanks to crowd control problems. Possibly Veksar, maybe a different approach in Dulak or in Nadox.

Next AAs will be CA, ND, CS, then either finish MC, or SCS. Then level.